2008 - Crime in the United StatesCrime in the United States (CIUS) is an annual publication in which the FBI compiles volume and rate of crime offenses for the nation, the states, and individual agencies. This report also includes arrest, clearance, and law enforcement employee data.

2008 - New Jersey UCR (Uniform Crime Report) -All crime rates are based on permanent, year-round populations. Comparisons of crime rates between individual municipalities should not be made without giving major consideration to the volume of seasonal population, transients, tourists, and labor forces. All offenses are recorded in the municipality of occurrence, regardless of the outside investigative agency, i.e., Federal, State, County, College Campus Police.

For decades, some residents could not get court documents they were entitled to see because the judiciary had limited guidelines on which records were available for public viewing.

That's expected to change next month when a new rule recently adopted by the state's highest court to goes into effect. Evidence admitted in New Jersey courts are just some of the records specifically defined as "open for public inspection" in the state's new guidelines.

Records not open to residents after Sept. 1 will include financial information in divorce proceedings and what the court calls "personal indentifiers" such as Social Security, driver's license, insurance policy and credit card numbers.

"We have to take into account the need for openness while taking into account the need to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society," said Justice Barry Albin, who chaired a 21-person committee whose 35 recommendations were accepted and slightly modified by the justices last month.

Opera star succumbs at home after fight with pancreatic cancer

Thursday, September 06, 2007

BY BRADLEY BAMBARGER

Star-Ledger Staff

Luciano Pavarotti was the epitome of the Italian tenor, but he was bigger than opera itself, a vocal icon to classical peers and rock stars alike. His voice's sweet tone and ringing fluidity was as beloved by aficionados as it was by millions of listeners who didn't know Puccini from Verdi. He was one of The Three Tenors, but a first among equals to many.

Pavarotti died today at home in Modena, Italy, according to his manager, Terri Robson. The singer had battled pancreatic cancer since undergoing surgery for the disease last July. He was 71.